Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
micaela @mindfulmomma
Banish Mold From Your Shower With These DIY Tips
7 hours ago
User-posted content
Get DIY tips for cleaning mold and mildew in the shower, using natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and essential oils. PLUS learn how to make an effective homemade mold prevention spray for the bathroom.
The gleaming tile. The shiny new fixtures. The spotless shower. When you spend good money redecorating a bathroom, you can get a little obsessive about keeping it clean.
I know because I've been there.
We did a partial remodel in our bathroom by putting in new tile in the shower and new porcelain over the old bathtub. I'm bound and determined to make sure that mold and mildew don't take residence in there!
The Problem with Mold in the Shower
Not only is mold ugly and embarrassing, it can be a health hazard, causing asthma attacks, nasal congestion and headaches. Mold exposure can lead to long-term health issues too.
Black mold is especially common in showers because it grows in damp, warm places. Black mold is a type of fungus and it produces mold spores that are released into the air. Molds can also produce microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs), which create that musty smell that we've all experienced - ewwww!
If you are allergic to black mold, you may experience immediate symptoms after exposure including sneezing, coughing, respiratory problems or worsening asthma symptoms. Even if you are not allergic to mold, you may experience some irritation from it. Bottom line, it's best to deal with mold right away to prevent any health risk.
Photo byCanva Pro
How to Prevent Mold in the Shower
So how do you keep mold and mildew from growing in your shower?
The best way to start is prevention. Mold prevention in the bathroom can be tricky, but use the tips below to try to keep your shower from becoming a breeding ground for mold in the first place.
Make sure the shower area is well-ventilated - turn on the exhaust fan and open the windows and doors.
After each shower, use a squeegee to take excess water off of the shower tiles, shower door and walls.
Wipe down problem areas like corners and ledges with a microfiber cloth. Mold needs a wet environment to grow so keep things as dry as possible.
Shake out your shower curtain after each shower. Wash or replace shower curtain liner frequently (make sure it's PVC free).
Use a dehumidifier if the bathroom has high humidity levels.
Make your own homemade shower cleaner spray using vinegar, castile soap and essential oils to prevent mold (see DIY shower mold prevention spray recipe below)
Photo byCanva Pro
How to Clean Mold in the Shower
If mold does show up in the shower, attack it immediately using the natural mold cleaning tips I outline below, in order to prevent mold growth.
Spray the affected area with straight white vinegar to kill mold spores.
Make this DIY mold cleaner: Mix up a paste of baking soda or borax (a naturally occurring mineral) with warm water and a few drops of antibacterial essential oils. Scrub the affected areas with an old toothbrush or scrub brush. (Use caution if you use borax - it can be harmful if ingested.)
To bleach mildew and mold stains, mix 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide with 1/2 cup water in a spray bottle. For best results, spray the stains with solution, scrub it in a bit and then leave to dry.
Dispose of any sponges or brushes used to clean mold, to avoid contaminating other parts of the house.
Note: Once mold has taken hold in your shower, it may not be possible to scrub it away. Replacing mold stained caulk or tile grout may be your only option in some cases.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Comments / 0